Device for handling printed circuit cards



June 16, 1964 K. w. HARRIS DEVICE FOR HANDLING PRINTED CIRCUIT CARDS Filed May 18, 1959 Il u ll United States Patent C) 3,137,065 DEVICE FOR HANDLING PRINTED CIRCUIT CARDS Konstantine W. Harris, Encino, Calif., assigner to The Magnavox Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 18, 1959, Ser. No. 813,913 11 Claims. (Cl. 29-278) This invention relates to a device for handling platelike printed circuit cards and more particularly refers to such a device for use in withdrawing printed circuit cards from electrical apparatus as Iwell as for inserting the cards.

Electrical apparatus of the character to which the invention pertains has a row of closely spaced removable printed circuit cards of plastic material, the opposite side edges of the cards being retained by corresponding pairs of guide grooves in the apparatus and the inner ends'of the cards being gripped by spring-like electrical contacts for completing the electrical circuits. Each pair of guide grooves, in effect, forms a slot in the apparatus to hold the corresponding circuit card and to define the path of movement of the circuit card into and out of the apparatus. Each individual card has a pair of apertures near the two cornersof the card at its outer end whereby an installed card may be engaged and withdrawn from the apparatus. For example, a tool or any convenient device dimensioned to enter one of the card apertures may be used to engage an installed card and to overcome the frictional grip ofthe spring contacts.

Such an improvised procedure for withdrawing a card has several disadvantages in addition to being awkward and time-consuming. A careless prying action may stress the card to a damaging extent. It is also a disadvantage that all of the pulling force is exerted at only one corner of the card, one consequence being that the stresses are concentrated at the selected aperture and another consequence being that the pulling Vforce is not aligned longitudinally with the installed card. It is also a disadvantage that after an installed card is initially loosened from the spring contacts by means of a tool or instrument, a second yoperation is required since the loosened card must be subsequently manually gripped for complete withdrawal.

The manual gripping of the partially withdrawn card may result `in inadvertent damage to an electrical component that is mounted on the card. Y

The present invention avoids all of these disadvantages `and difficulties by means of a manually operable cardhandling device that cooperates with both of the apertures of the card andquickly and easily disengages the card from the spring contacts of the apparatus by manual gripping force. With the card initially loosened in this manner, the device is employed to withdraw the card and carry the card away from the apparatus. The lwhole withdrawal operation is practically a single manual movement because no time is lost between the gripping action that initially loosens an installed card and the following hand movement for completely withdrawing the card.

Since lthe device of the invention engages both corner apertures of the card, the necessary stresses in the card are divided between the two apertures. In addition, the new device inherently applies pulling force that is accurately aligned with the longitudinal axis of the installed card. For this purpose, the card handling device straddles the exposed end of an installed card to abut the front of ,the electrical apparatus on opposite sides of the card.

The device comprises a rst structure which may be termed the straddling structure and a second structure which is `movable relative to the first structure and may be termed a .card-engaging structure. The first structure has two arms positioned to straddle an end of a circuit 3,137,065' Patented June 16, 1964 ice card in the plane of the card. The card-engaging structure is provided with a pair of projections in the form of pins to engage the apertures of an installed card. These two relatively movable structures are vformed with corresponding handle portions which are normally spaced apart. These two handle portions are adapted to be manually grasped for relative movement towards each other by manual gripping pressure. The grip-induced relative movement creates force between the straddling structure and the card-engaging structure to withdraw the installed card, the reaction to the withdrawal force being transmitted to the apparatus by the stationary straddling structure.

An important feature of the preferred embodiment of the invention is the provision of means that automatically locks the card on the two card-engaging pins in response to the manual gripping action. For this purpose, the straddling frame structure has a transverse guard member positioned to overhang the two pins of the card-engaging structure when the card-engaging structure is retracted by manual gripping force. Thus when an installed card is initially withdrawn from the spring contacts, the leading margin of the card is drawn under the transverse guard. Thereafter the card is positively interlocked with the card handling device so long as the card-engaging structure is manually retained in its retracted position.

To install a printed circuit card, first the two apertures of the card are engaged by the two pins of the cardengaging structure. Then the device is manually gripped to retract the end margin of the card to the locked position under the transverse guard so that the card cannot possibly be dropped from the handling device. The handling device is then employed to maneuver the card into the apparatus. With the card-engaging structure engaging the two apertures of the card, it is not possible to force the card completely into the apparatus by force applied solely to the straddling structure, as will be readily understood from the detailed description of the device. A nal operation is ordinarily required to force the card into eng-agement with the spring contacts of the apparatus to complete the installation.

A feature of the invention is the provision of means whereby the card handling dveice may also be employed for lthis final insertion operation. In fact, the operator has the choice of two provisions for this purpose. One provision consists of a manually operable latch that may be employed to hold the card-engaging means at its yadvanced position so that the necessary ttnal insertion force may be applied to the card through the straddling structure without a defeating retraction of the card-engaging structure. The other provision, which may be utilized if desired, consists simply of means carried by the cardengaging structure at a position forward of the two pins to exert a final push on the card.

The features and advantages of the invention may be understood by reference to the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention and by reference to the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing, which is to be regarded as merely yillustrative FIG. l is a side elevation of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention poised for movement in position against an electrical apparatus to withdraw a printed circuit card from the apparatus; p

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary View similar to FIG. 1 showing the card-engaging structure engaging a card and retracted for positive retention of the card by the overhanging guard of the straddling structure;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal section taken along the line 3 3 of FIG. 1 and illustrating the two ways in which the card-engaging structure may push the card into its installed position; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the latch engaged to hold the card-engaging structure advanced so that the pins 2t) may be used in the manner shown in FIG. 3 to push a card to its final installed position.

The presently preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing comprises a first U-shaped straddling structure, generally designated 10, with apair of forwardly extending legs 12 and a second card-engaging structure, generally designated 14, which is movably mountedon the first structure to shift between a normal forward position and a retracted rearward position. In the construction shown, the first structure 1Q comprises essentially a tube that is bent to a U-shaped configuration. The ends of the forwardly extending tubular legs 12 are adapted to abut the apparatus in which a printed circuit card is installed. One purpose of such abutment is to transmit to the apparatus the reaction of the withdrawal force that is applied to an installed card. VA second purpose is to orient the device to'exert a pulling force that is accurately aligned longitudinally of the installed card.

The two legs 12 may be provided with tips 15 of rubber-like material to avoid marring the surface of the apparatus. In the construction shown, the tips 15 are mounted on corresponding screws 16 which are threaded linto the ends of the two legs 12. The transverse rear portion 18 of the U-shaped structure 10 may be termed a handle portion since it is used in the gripping action for withdrawing a card from the apparatus.

The second card-engaging structure 14 may comprise essentially a plate that is slidably mounted on the two legs 12 of the straddling structure 10. In the construction shown, the two tubular legs 12 are provided with longitudinal slots 20 into which the card-engaging structure 14 slidingly extends. The card-engaging structure 14 has shoulders 22 which abut corresponding stop pins 24 in the tubular legs 12 at the normal forward position of the structure. To urge the card-engaging structure towards this normal position, a coil spring is mounted inside each of the two legs 12 under compression between the card-engaging structure 14 and a rearward cross pin 26. The card-engaging structure 14 may be retracted against the resistance of the two coil springs 25 to a limit position in abutment with the rear ends of the two slots 20. The range of movement of the card-engaging `structure 14 is suiiicient to disengage an installed printed card from the spring contacts of the apparatus that frictionally` grip the inner end of the card.

The drawing shows a printed circuit card, generally designated by the letter C, which is provided with the usual pair of apertures 28 near its forward two corners for the purpose of facilitating manipulation of the card. The card-engaging structure 14 of the card handling device is provided with suitable lateral projections to interconnect the two apertures 28. In the construction shown, the two lateral projections are in the form of pins 3G.

To permit manual retraction of the card-engaging structure 14 by gripping action, it has a transverse opening 32 large enough to receive the fingers of the operators hand, which opening forms a second handle portion 34. This second handle portion 34 is spaced forward from the previously mentioned first handle portion 18 of the straddling structure 10 so that the two handle portions may be grasped manually for retraction of the cardengaging structure 14 by manual gripping force.

As heretofore stated, a feature of the invention is the provisionof a guard on the straddling structure 1t) to lock an engaged card onthe card-engaging structure 14 automatically when the card-engaging structure is retracted. For this purpose, a thin transverse guard plate V 35 may. xedly interconnect the two legs 12 of the U-shaped structure 10 in a position to overhang the two pins when the card-engaging structure 14 is retracted. This transverse guard plate may be welded or brazed along the line 4 4 of FIG. 3

4 to the two legs 12 and may be kformed with a curved edge 36 that is turned towards the card-engaging structure 14. It is apparent that the guard plate 35 not only serves its primary locking purpose but also strengthens the straddling structure 1t) by rigidly interconnecting the two legs 12.

For the purpose of withdrawing a card from an apparatus that is generally designated by the letter A, the operator grasps the device by the two handle portions 18 and 34 and places the tips 15 of the straddling structure 1t) against the apparatus in a position straddling the installed card. The installed card is straddled edgewise, which is to say that the two legs 12 are in the same plane as the installed card. vIn placing the device in this position, the operator maneuvers the two pins 30 of the cardengaging structure 14 into the two card apertures 28.

The operator then tightens his grip on the two handle portions 18 and 34 to retract the card-engaging structure 14 thereby pulling the installed card free from the spring contacts of the apparatus. With the card initially dislodged in this manner by retraction of the card-engaging structure 14, the guard plate 35 overhangs the edge of the card and the pins Sil as shown in FIG. 2 to lock the card on the two pins 30. The operator then draws the device rearward away from the apparatus to pull the card completely out of the apparatus. Actually, this final pulling action follows the gripping action so closely that the two actions in effect constitute a single operation. The operator sustains the grip pressure on the two handle portions 1S and 34 to keep the card secure and in this manner carries the card away from the apparatus without danger of the card being dropped.

To install a card in the apparatus, the card is engaged by the two pins 30 and the two handle portions are again gripped to retract the card-engaging structure 14 to make the guard plate 35 effective for locking the card. The device is then used to reinsert a card. It is to be noted, however, that a card cannot be-completely inserted by means of the pins 30 unless the card-engaging structure 14 is prevented from retracting against the yielding resistance of the springs 25. As heretofore stated, the preferred practice of the invention provides a latch means to releasably hold the card-engaging structure 14 from retraction whereby the pins 30 may be employed to complete the insertion of a card and force the card into engagement with the spring contacts of the apparatus.

In the construction shown, the latch means comprises a latch member 49 that is slidingly mounted on the cardengaging structure 14 by a pair of brackets 42. The latch member 4t) is adapted to frictionally maintain either a retracted position or an alternate latching position at which the latch member extends into a latching recess 44 in the adjacent tubular leg 12 of the vstraddling structure 10. The latch member 40 may be of the angular configuration shown to provide a convenient thumb piece 45 which `rnay have a serrated surface, as shown.

If the operator desires to use the two pins 30 to force a printed circuit card into its final position in the apparatus, the latch member 40 is shifted by thumb pressure to its effective position to maintain the card-engaging structure 14 in its normal position in a manner that will withstand rearward pressure; The pressure for forcing the card to its final position is then applied manually by pushing against the handle portion 18 of the straddling structure 1t), the pressure being transmitted through the latch member 4t) to the card-engaging structure 14. In FIG. 3, the pins 30 are pushing a card C-l.

As heretofore stated, a feature of the presently preferred embodiment ofthe invention is the provision of an alternate means that may be used to carry out this final pushing operation without the necessity of using the latch member 40. In the present construction, this alternate means comprises a pair of plates `46 and 48 that are secured together and anchored to the card-engaging structureA 14 by suitable screws 50. These two plates 46 andA 48 may be made of plasticmaterial. The

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s inner plate 46 which is used to abut or pushagainst the card is set back slightly from the forward edge of the card-engaging structure 14 and the outer plate 48 is positioned forward to overhang the inner plate. This arrangement provides a transverse groove to seat the end edge ofthe card to keep the device in engagement with the card during the pushing operation.

It is to be noted that when a card is abutted by the inner plate 46, the edge of the card is spaced forward from the position the card would take if it were engaged by the two pins 30. Thus, in FIG. 3, the card C-2 is advanced relative to the card C-l. It is this forward spacing which permits the card-engaging structure 14 to push a card into its fully installed position while the card-engaging structure 14 is completely retracted. Thus if only the handle portion 18 of the straddling structure 10 is used to apply the pressure for pushing a card into its .fully installed position while the card is abutted by the edge of the inner plate 46, the card-engaging structure 14 may fully retract against the resistance of the springs 25 and still be advanced sufficiently to force the card all the way to the desired installed position.

My description in specific detail of the selected embodiment of the invention will suggest various changes, substitutions and other departures from my disclosure within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A device for withdrawing an apertured plate-like printed circuit card endwise from a slot in an electrical apparatus, comprising: a first structure having a first rearwardly positioned handle portion and having a forward portion for abutment against the apparatus adjacent the installed card; a second structure movably mounted on said first structure for shift relative thereto between a normal forward position and a retracted rearward position, said second structure having a forward portion shaped to engage the apertured portion of the card and having a rearwardly positioned second handle portion forward of said first handle portion to be manually gripped together with said first handle portion for retraction of the second structure whereby said first structure may be placed against said apparatus with said second structure engaged with a card in the apparatus and then said two handle portions may be gripped for retraction of the `second structure and consequent withdrawal of the card from the apparatus with the reaction to the withdrawal force transmitted to the apparatus; and means to Ilock the card on the card-engaging structure in response to retraction thereof.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 which includes yielding means acting between said two structures to urge said second structure toward its forward position.

3. A device as set forth in claim l in which said forward portion of the first structure for abutment against the apparatus is shaped and dimensioned to straddle the installed card edgewise thereof in the plane of the card with clearance relative to the path of withdrawal of the card that is defined by said slot.

4. A device for manipulating an apertured plate-like circuit card which is normally slidably mounted in an electrical apparatus, including, a first structure having a handle and a pair of legs extending from the handle with a spacing greater than the width of the circuit card, the legs being adapted for disposition against the apparatus to facilitate the movement of the card into and out of the apparatus, a second structure having a forward portion and a rearward portion separated from one another by an opening for disposition of the fingers of the hand in the opening, there being slots in the legs of the first structure for receiving the second structure for slidable movement of the second structure relative to the first structure in the forward and reverse directions upon a manipulation of the first and second structures, spring means disposed relative to the legs of the first structure and constrained relative to the second structure for urging the second structure in the forward direction relative to the first structure, and pin means disposed on the forward portion of the second structure for extending into the apertures of the circuit card to grip the circuit card between the legs of the first structure for movement with the second structure in the forward and reverse directions.

5. The device set forth in claim 4 in which guard means are disposed on the first structure at a position relative to the second structure and are shaped relative to the second structure to lock the circuit card against removal upon the movement of the second card to the rearward position relative to the first card.

6. The device set forth in claim 4 in which latch means are disposed relative to the first and second structures to latch the first structure against movement relative to the second structure in the forward position of the second structure relative to the first structure.

7. The device set forth in claim 4 in which a guard plate extends outwardly and forwardly from the legs of the first structure to receive the circuit card upon a rearward movement of the second structure relative to the first structure and to prevent the circuit card from being removed from the device upon such rearward movement and in which latch means are adjustably disposed relative to theiirst and second structures to obtain a unitary movement of the first and second structures in the forward position of the second structure relative to the first structure.

8. The device set forth in claim 7 in which the latch means includes an adjustable thumb piece on the second structure and further includes a recess in one of the legs of the first structure for receiving the thumb piece upon an adjustment of the thumb piece.

9. A device for manipulating a plate-like printed circuit card which is normally slidably mounted in a slot in an electrical apparatus and which has apertures near its end edges to facilitate manipulation thereof, said device comprising:

a first structure having a first rearwardly positioned handle portion and a forward portion for abutment against said apparatus in spaced relation to the path of movement of the card that is defined by said slot; a second structure movably mounted on said first structure for shift relative thereto in the plane of said slot between a normal forward positon and a retracted rearward position, said second structure having a forward portion provided with lateral projections for engagement with the card by insertion into said apertures, said second structure having a rearwardly positioned second handle portion forward of said first handle portion to be manually gripped together with said first handle portion for retraction of the second structure whereby said first structure may be placed against said apparatus with said second structure engaged with a card in the apparatus and then said two handle portions may be gripped for retraction of the second structure and consequent withdrawal of the card from the apparatus along said path without distorting interference by said first structure with the reaction to the withdrawal force transmitted to the apparatus; and a guard fixedly mounted on said first structure in position to overlap the apertured portion of the card when the card is engaged by said projections and said second frame structure is retracted by gripping force whereby the guard locks the card on said projections so long as the gripping force is sustained. 10. A device for manipulating an apertured plate-like circuit card which is normally slidably mounted in an electrical apparatus, including,

a first structure having a rearwardly positioned handle portion and having a pair of legs disposed in spaced relationship on opposite sides of the plate-like circuit card and extending forwardly from the handle portion for engagement with the apparatus tofobtain a transfer of the circuit card into and out of the apparatus,

second structure supported between the legs of the first structure in slidable relationship with respect to the legs in the forward and rearward positions, the second structure having a forward portion for engaging the circuit card and having a rear portion asecond structure supported between the legs of the for manual cooperation with the handle on the rst structure to facilitate the forward and rearward movement of the second structure relative to the rst structure, spring means disposed relative to the first and second structures for urging the second structure in the forward direction relative to the rst structure, means on the forward portion of the second structure for extending into the apertures in the plate-like circuit card to grip the circuit card for movement with the second structure; and means on the rst structure for locking the circuit card against removal from the device upon the movement of the second structure to the rearward position rel-- ative to the rst structure. l1. A device for manipulating an apertured plate-like circuit card which is normally slidably mounted. in an electrical apparatus, including,

a rst structure having a rearwardly positioned handle first structure,

spring means disposed relative to the rst and second structures for urging the second structure in the forward direction relative to the rst structure,

means on the forward. portion of the second structure for extending into the apertures in the plate-like circuit card to grip the circuit card for movement with y the second structure; and

guard means on the iirst structure and disposed relative to the second structure for providing for a removal of the circuit card from the device in the forward position of the second structure relative to the first structure and for providing a retention of the circuit card by the device upon a movement of the second structure to the rearward position relative to the first structure,

References Cited in the tile of this patent l UNITED STATES PATENTS portion and having a pair of legs disposed in spaced 481,986 Waldron Sept. 6, 1892 relationship on opposite sides of the plate-like circuit 543,652 Palm July 30, 1895 card and extending forwardly from the handle por- 1,357,012 Tweto Oct. 26, 1920 tion for engagement with the apparatus to obtain a 2,207,892 Mullaney VJuly 16, 1940 transfer of the circuit card into and out of the ap- 2,631,816 Neilsen Mar. 17, 1953 params,r 2,893,777 ONeill et al July 7, 1959 

1. A DEVICE FOR WITHDRAWING AN APERTURED PLATE-LIKE PRINTED CIRCUIT CARD ENDWISE FROM A SLOT IN AN ELECTRICAL APPARATUS, COMPRISING: A FIRST STRUCTURE HAVING A FIRST REARWARDLY POSITIONED HANDLE PORTION AND HAVING A FORWARD PORTION FOR ABUTMENT AGAINST THE APPARATUS ADJACENT THE INSTALLED CARD; A SECOND STRUCTURE MOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID FIRST STRUCTURE FOR SHIFT RELATIVE THERETO BETWEEN A NORMAL FORWARD POSITION AND A RETRACTED REARWARD POSITION, SAID SECOND STRUCTURE HAVING A FORWARD PORTION SHAPED TO ENGAGE THE APERTURED PORTION OF THE CARD AND HAVING A REARWARDLY POSITIONED SECOND HANDLE PORTION FORWARD OF SAID FIRST HANDLE PORTION TO BE MANUALLY GRIPPED TOGETHER WITH SAID FIRST HANDLE PORTION FOR RETRACTION OF THE SECOND STRUCTURE WHEREBY SAID FIRST STRUCTURE MAY BE PLACED AGAINST SAID APPARATUS WITH SAID SECOND STRUCTURE ENGAGED WITH A CARD IN THE APPARATUS AND THEN SAID TWO HANDLE PORTIONS MAY BE GRIPPED FOR RETRACTION OF THE SECOND STRUCTURE AND CONSEQUENT WITHDRAWAL OF THE CARD FROM THE APPARATUS WITH THE REACTION TO THE WITHDRAWAL FORCE TRANSMITTED TO THE APPARATUS; AND MEANS TO LOCK THE CARD ON THE CARD-ENGAGING STRUCTURE IN RESPOSNE TO RETRACTION THEREOF. 